When Barbara Goodell first sat around a dining room table over 35 years ago as an amateur trying to grow a cider orchard, she didn’t envision that her interest in grafting would lead to the Mendocino Permaculture Annual Winter Abundance Workshop, which just held its 35th event on Saturday at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds in Boonville.

Goodell and her husband had no experience in grafting and simply wanted to see if amateurs could do it. With a little instruction, they planted a hundred rootstocks and wood scions and had 99 of them take. Her experience made her determined to share her new knowledge with Mendocino County. She and some friends put together the yearly event to help people in the community learn to graft.

Grafting is the marrying of two different tissues from a rootstock and scion so they can grow together. Grafting allows fruit trees to reproduce and lets trees change and become new varieties. Grafting information is so sought after that grafting workshops are held from San Diego to Humboldt County.

The event started out small but grew as people would call her and ask to know when it was happening again. Goodell and the organizers had to move to the fairgrounds because the previous locations were too small. Grafting classes, scion exchanges, and rootstocks purchases are the staples of the event, but there are now more events like seed exchanges, elementary school food fundraisers, and booths selling goat cheese and meat. This year saw a new class on pecan grafting offered. Nuts and fruits like persimmons are harder to grow compared to apples and plums.

Goodell says they have not formed an official organization or nonprofit and consciously makes an effort to ensure that most things are free or affordable. She noted that many seed corporations are making it difficult to find seed individuality and variety. The Winter Workshop allows seed exchange and free access to seeds that people from Mendocino County have saved for this event.

Andy Balestracci moved to Anderson Valley 18 years ago and first came to the event in 2004 to exchange scion. He was blown away by the welcoming environment and the amount of free exchange. Since he started coming, he has watched the seed exchange pop up and become one of the most popular events three. People have the options of picking up vegetable and fruit seeds. He says that grafting and education yourself can empower people to grow fruits, vegetables, and trees. He says that with the right type of tutoring, anybody in need of nutritious food throughout most of the year can grow it through grafting.